Ripening-related changes in raspberry cell wall composition and structure

Cell walls were prepared from the fruit of two cultivars of raspberry at three stages of ripening; green, white and red (ripe). The cultivars. Glen Clova and Glen Prosen, are subjectively classified, at harvest by growers, as soft and firm fruit, respectively. The cell walls were analysed for neutral sugar composition, uronic acid content, degree of methyl esterification, lignin and ferulic acid-derived dehydrodimers. Solid-state 31C NMR and diffuse reflectance infrared (DRIFT) spectra were acquired for the cell wall residues. For both cultivars the progression from green to white produced minimal changes, save for a reduction in pectin. NMR analyses indicated that the solubilized pectin was acetylated. Progression to the red (ripe) stage, in both cultivars, was accompanied by a reduction in the ordered cellulose and a dramatic reduction in pectin content and the degree of methyl-esterification. Significantly, the softer fruit (Glen Clova) exhibited greater reductions in both parameters, implicating increased pectin hydrolysis, as one of the main factors contributing to the difference in firmness between the cultivars. A relative increase in cell wall-associated protein was seen at the red stage. The nature and function of the protein(s) are, as yet unknown.